Drill Team performs for NCAA Final Four events

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Madelyn Waychoff
  • Air Force Honor Guard Public Affairs
ATLANTA -- --  The United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team performed this weekend for the opening ceremonies and other events surrounding the NCAA Final Four Tournament March 29 through April 1.
"This was a great opportunity for us to showcase the Air Force and spread awareness of our mission," said 1st Lt. Joshua Hawkins, Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team commander. "We had the chance to talk to and reach out to basketball fans from throughout the U.S. This is what we train for."
The team, stationed out of Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., performed for the opening ceremonies in Centennial Olympic Park, on the same stage as such bands as Live and Ludacris, and for NCAA Tournament fans at the RazorGator experience March 31.
April 1 the team performed at Hoop City, in the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, for hundreds of basketball fans.
"The team just adds so much to these events," said Amber Rae, Hoop City show producer. "The NCAA contacted me and I was so excited to have them come perform, it's such a tribute to all the military members serving our country right now."
Although the Marine Drill Team will be performing at the final's half-time show, team members don't feel like they missed out on any opportunities.
"We got to interact so much more with the crowds and really talk to people, whereas if we were only performing at the half-time show we wouldn't have gotten that opportunity," said Senior Airman Jason Martin, drill team trainer. "This was one of the coolest things we've gotten to do while I've been in, it was just awesome to be a part of it."
The NCAA tournament was the first stop on the drill team's most recent tour. They will also be performing for a Major League Soccer Game in Salt Lake City April 7 and for the National ROTC Conference April 8.